Democracy: a government by the people, in which citizens rule either directly or through elected representatives - the latter description being more relevant to today's societies. Obviously, democracy is not perfect; Like any other political system, it is subject to a multitude of flaws. For example, it's no secret that voters tend to make illogical decisions – not out of sheer malice, but because they have been misinformed. Politicians also make wrong choices, whether they do so because they are dishonest or simply out of touch with the true will of their constituents. Additionally, anyone who has studied the government of a parliamentary democracy knows that gerrymandering can have significant weight in determining elections. Despite these and other flaws, democracy still seems to work. Comparing the average citizen of a democratic country, for example the United States, to that of a non-democratic country, for example Egypt, one will find that the citizen of a democratic nation is generally better off – free to persecution, free from fear of authorities, and free to express opinions on government matters. And although national conflicts erupt everywhere, incidents such as violent revolts are found to be more common in countries where citizens are not allowed to choose who governs them. It is slightly paradoxical that democracy, so imperfect in theory, can lead to such results in practice. The question then becomes: “If democracy has so many weaknesses, why does it work?” » It is strange to look at psychological factors to answer this question, but they can be of great help in finding a correct answer. Giving people the right to vote, whether or not that vote is decisive in the adoption of certain policies...... middle of paper ...... result of direct democracy, complications like bringing every citizen to vote on every issue, something almost impossible with modern populations that grow like grass in spring. These changes caused democracy to become intertwined with other forms of government and, although they caused a departure from pure democracy, they allowed countless nations to function effectively while maintaining the pillar fundamental of democracy: ultimate authority and power derive from the state. In deciphering what makes democracy great, we see that it is not about the ability of citizens to make informed decisions nor about a flawless and subtly manipulated electoral process, but about the invisible way in which the democracy persuades citizens – informed or not – and leaders. – corrupt or not – to work to build better and more prosperous societies.